10 things you need to know about Washington: part 1 of 2.

• Author: Sanger, David E.
• Position: NATIONAL

It isn't following the action--or lack of it--in the nation's capital. Here are the basics from David E. Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times.

[1] How much power does the president really have?

Many Americans assume the leader of the world's most powerful nation can do just about anything: fix the economy, spend tax dollars as he pleases, and protect the nation from harm. In reality, the president's powers are more limited. The Constitution makes the president the commander-in-chief of the military and gives him the authority to appoint federal judges, the heads of federal agencies, and justices of the Supreme Court (all subject to Senate confirmation).

Beyond that, it's a lot trickier. In foreign affairs, the president has a good deal of latitude, because in his role as commander-in-chief there's so much he can do without congressional approval. He can send troops to intervene in a conflict (though only Congress can officially declare war), order drone strikes against suspected terrorists, and sit down with foreign leaders to press for U.S. interests.

Domestically, the president must work with Congress to get anything done. President Obama took office with a big agenda, including closing the Guantanamo prison and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But with control of Congress divided--Democrats hold 52 of 100 seats in the Senate and Republicans 234 of 435 seats in the House of Representatives--he has been stymied. He can draw media attention to issues and pressure lawmakers, but only Congress can enact laws or pass budgets.

"Americans do expect the president to be their eyes, their ears, and their voice," says presidential scholar Stephen Hess. "But really, the president is just one player in a very complicated system."

[2] Do Democrats and Republicans ever cooperate?

There are brief moments of cooperation, but they're getting rarer and rarer. The question is, why could Republicans and Democrats agree in the past to big, history-changing legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but today they can't even pass a budget?

John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat, is the longest-serving member of Congress and knows Washington inside and out. When he was elected to the House in 1955, most members of Congress moved their families to

Washington. They had dinner with each other and their kids went to school together. Sometimes, they went to the White House for a cookout or met for a round of golf, Dingell recalls. It's harder to personally attack people you know well and socialize with, even if you disagree with them.

That's gone today, Dingell says, because members of Congress think they constantly have to fly back home to avoid the perception that they've lost touch with their districts, to keep their re-election campaigns in gear, and to raise money. Most are in Washington only from Tuesday through Thursday, and their families don't live there. That doesn't leave much time to negotiate compromises or get to know each other, much less the president.

Another key factor is the 24/7 news cycle. There's...